MORE than half of voters oppose Alex Salmond’s plans to increase immigration to an independent Scotland.

More than 55 per cent of Scots would want fewer immigrants coming into Scotland, says a Daily Record poll on the referendum issue.

Only 10 per cent of Scots surveyed support the SNP policy for more immigrants and fewer than 15 per cent of SNP voters support the party’s plans.

Just over a third, 34 per cent, want the same number of immigrants as present.

Our poll was carried out nationwide by Survation, who questioned 1013 people.

It provides a major headache for the SNP. The Nats based their White Paper plans for the Scottish economy on boosting immigration.

Alex Salmond has plans for a modest increase in net immigration to 24,000 people a year, up just 2000.

Politicians of all the major parties agree that, with Scotland’s population ageing, it needs to increase people of working age to pay taxes and provide funds for pensions and public services.

But critics of independence argue that having different entry rules from the rest of the UK would lead to Border posts between Scotland and the rest of the UK – something the SNP deny.

An independent Scotland would have difficulty funding pension payments, according to Better Together, and would need mass immigration to keep the public pension pot balanced.

Gregg McClymont

Gregg McClymont, Scottish Labour MP and Shadow Pensions Minister, said: “Alex Salmond has said he would increase immigration in a separate Scotland to plug the black hole in his pensions plan.

“Scots deserve to know what assessment he has done on the scale of immigration required and how this would impact on public services. It isn’t credible to keep the truth hidden from families in Scotland.”

Opposition to immigration in our poll was strongest among Conservative voters, at 71.5 per cent, and had least opposition from SNP voters, although 47.8 per cent of them are still against.

More than half of Labour supporters, 55.9 per cent and Lib Dems, 52 per cent, are opposed.

The SNP said the Scottish Parliament would decide on immigration policy under independence.

SNP MSP Christian Allard said: “A Yes vote means Scotland will be able to set our own priorities rather than having them decided by the UKIP-obsessed Westminster establishment.”